Special Service and Features
CTCRI launches Rainbow Diet Campaign for promoting biofortified tubers in Attapadi
The ICAR – Central Tuber Crops Research Institute , Thiruvananthapuram in collaboration with Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pattambi has launched ‘Rainbow Diet Campaign’ in Agali, Attapady. This is a field intervention programme for promoting production and utilisation of biofortified tuber crop varieties developed by ICAR – CTCRI, at Agali. While launching the programme at a Stakeholders meeting conducted at KILA campus, Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI and Chief Guest of the function said ‘biofortified tubers offer promising solution for promoting health and wellness of the tribals in a natural way at an affordable cost’. Under this programme, the nutrient-rich tuber crops such as orange- and purple-fleshed sweet potato  and purple-fleshed yam  were introduced in the tribal areas of Sholayur and Pulimala areas of Attapadi. During the inauguration, he announced that a new Satellite Incubation Centre will be set up in RARS, Pattambi for promoting tribal entrepreneurship. ‘Tuber Crops Rainbow Diet Plate’ – a plateful of food products developed from biofortified sweet potato, cassava and millets, which provide balanced nutrition for addressing the malnutrition in Attapadi was also introduced on the occasion. Currently, the Rainbow Diet Campaign project is implemented through three specialised programmes i.e. Nutriseed Village, SCHOOL CONNECT programme and Capacity Plus. Under the Nutriseed village scheme, 24 tribal farmers from Vayaloor and Chitoor villages are involved in production of quality planting materials of biofortified sweet potato varieties Bhu Sona, Bhu Ja, Bhu Kanti  and Bhu Krishna .
In his presidential address, Dr. P.P. Musa, Professor, RARS, KAU, Pattambi has informed that biofortified sweet potato can fit well in the millet-based consumption systems in Attapadi and will address the malnutrition problem in the region. Officials from line departments, Dr. Sumiya K.V., Programme Coordinator, KVK, KAU, Pattambi; Mrs. Latha R., Assistant Director of Agriculture, Agali; Mrs. Suja K.K., ICDS Supervisor, Attapadi along with Dr. P. Sethuraman Sivakumar, Principal Scientist and the Project leader of Rainbow Diet Campaign, Dr Saravanan Raju, Principal Scientist of ICAR-CTCRI and Dr. B. Shanmugasundaram, Professor, RARS, Pattambi and Coordinator of Attapadi Campaign also interacted with farmers. Planting materials of biofortified sweet potato were distributed to the farmers. One hundred and seventy farmers and other stakeholders participated in the meeting.
Later in the day, a nutrition awareness programme on biofortified tuber crops was organised at the Malleswara Vidhyanikedhan, Nellippathy to promote healthy eating among school children. While inaugurating the programme, Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR-CTCRI called for implementing a three-pronged strategy for prompting biofortified crops in school - creating nutritional awareness through specialised campaigns, providing experiential learning for children in growing biofortified crops in the school gardens & making them ambassadors of change for promoting biofortified and nutritious crops in their neighbourhood and communities. During the meeting, he launched the SCHOOL CONNECT programme and introduced ‘Three Musketeers Sweet Potato  scheme where 100 students are supplied three vine cuttings of orange-fleshed sweet potato  and tasked with growing them at their home and bring tubers along with vines on 100th day for rewarding three best performers. During the meeting, Mr. Shaji A., Principal of the school, Dr. Sumiya K.V., Programme Coordinator, KVK, KAU, Pattambi; Mrs. Latha R, Assistant Director of Agriculture, Agali; Mrs. Suja, K.K., ICDS Supervisor, Attapadi along with Dr. P. Sethuraman Sivakumar, Principal Scientist and the Project leader of Rainbow Diet Campaign, Dr Saravanan Raju, Principal Scientist of ICAR-CTCRI and Dr. B. Shanmugasundaram, Professor, RARS, Pattambi and Coordinator of Attapadi Campaign also interacted with students. After the launching ceremony, the students planted biofortified sweet potato varieties in school garden. About 100 students took part in the launching ceremony.
ND
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